A Day at the Holy Child Program

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The Holy Child Program - Instilling Hope Through Healing

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Friend of the Holy Child Program

The work that HCP does day-to-day is anything but ordinary, and this is even more the case with the war which constantly surrounds our families.

I am writing to share a recent story regarding one of our students. See below:

Samir, a 10-year-old student, was having difficulties focusing and sitting still both at home and in the classroom. His parents and his teachers worked hard to settle him, but eventually it became clear that he needed to be evaluated at a neurological clinic.

Samir’s father was recently out of work due to the war. His mother has been exhausted caring for her 7 children between the ages of one and twelve. Samir’s family lives in a village outside Beit Sahour, feeling the threat every day of being attacked by Israeli settlers nearby.

Given the circumstances in Samir’s family, Hani, the HCP social worker, immediately offered to help his mother schedule an appointment at Caritas Baby Hospital’s

Neurological Clinic in Bethlehem and to accompany her to the appointment (which she gladly accepted).

On the day of the appointment, while at the hospital Hani got a message that the schools in the area were closing and the children needed to go home because of an “event” at the Hebron/Jerusalem checkpoint which is very near to Bethlehem.

Because of this the Ministry of Education was concerned that there would be an incursion of Israeli Military in Bethlehem and the surrounding area.

With the schools closing immediately, three of Samir’s sisters – one in the Holy Child Program and two in the public schools – needed to be picked up and brought home. HCP staff helped with the sister that was at HCP, but the other two girls unfortunately needed to wait in the street to be picked up after Samir’s appointment.

Samir was seen by the neurologist and diagnosed with ADHD. Both Hani and Samir’s mother were briefed by the doctor regarding follow-up instructions and treatment.

This may sound overwhelming for some, but the reality is that it is just a normal day at the Holy Child Program. It is this level of engagement with our students and their families that we commit to every day which, in-part, explains why student outcomes at HCP are so consistently successful.

It is through our donors financial support that the Holy Child Program is able to deliver this level of support to our students and their families, especially in the midst of war. We ask that you please donate to HCP by following this link: https://holychildbethlehem.org/support/.

For the Board of Directors, thank you for your gifts and prayers.

Francis Barillaro

Vice President & Treasurer

Bethlehem Holy Child Program

Holy Child Program

Beit Sahour, The Holy Land

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